GBCA Discussion Forum

Great idea!
If it's raining for the after party, we can move over to the GBCA lounge.

Lakewood Yacht Club

THE 2015 HARVEST MOON REGATTA® RACE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 22, 2015 HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Due to serious concerns about the safety of participants and their vessels due to hazardous weather conditions predicted by several weather authorities, Lakewood Yacht Club, as Host, and Bay Access, as Organizer, have decided to cancel the 2015 Harvest Moon Regatta® race.

Information regarding the other events scheduled to occur in Port Aransas as part of the regatta, including the Bacardi Rum Party, BBQ, and raffle events will be forthcoming.

The history and goal of the Harvest Moon Regatta® race is to promote offshore sailing in safe conditions such that the participants, whether seasoned sailing veterans or first time offshore sailors, can enjoy the race and trip down the coast with confidence and safety for all concerned. Race safety is paramount. Though it's possible the weather could moderate during the time the race would have been held, the forecasts indicate the conditions will most likely remain such that race conditions, especially docking and vessel return conditions, will not meet the goals of the race as organized. Therefore, the 2015 Harvest Moon Regatta® race has been cancelled.

The plan for the race is the "Star" pattern distance course that was so popular (or a shorter course if winds are light) with pursuit start.

For the Chili party.  The idea was to bring back the chili cook-off and race series GBCA used to run back in the day.  Since there are so many events already on the schedule, we didn't want to make a series out of it (yet), but see if we can have a one fun day of race and chili cook-off, combined in the same weekend. 

The details of the scoring and judging haven't been worked out, but the idea is for race competitors to also submit a chili entry.  But, others who don't race may want to enter the cook-off.  So, there will be a race winner, a cook-off winner and possibly an combined overall winner.   This is not meant to be a professional cook-off, just another way to have fun. 

You may be asking how do the boats race and cook chili on the same day?  Well this might be easier for the cruising class boats who have the amenities on board, but a challenge for the performance boats without a galley.  So, it might be a logistics challenge for many.  Hint - Everyone knows that chili tastes better the second time around, so you can make it the day before and bring the cook-off to be warmed up.  GBCA has a brand new microwave and a couple of crock pots.  Or, you can bring your own. 

For the cook-off, competitors are not expected to serve the masses.  GBCA will provide chili and fixin's, accompanied by the usual libations for the après race party.  Chili cook-off competitors need only provide enough of their competition chili entry for 10-20 judges (other skippers or board members) to have a sample tasting.  The tasting and judging will be during the après race party leading up to the awards.

Quote from: Ron_1056 on September 08, 2015, 04:41:31 PM
Have the Cruising Club handicaps been updated? Will the current Handicaps be used for Rum Race #8?

Yes, the ratings have been updated for CRR8. What is online at the time of race is what you get to use.

Good luck.

C

Sailors,

GBCA's Board of Governors  greatly appreciates your membership and continuing support of our club and yacht racing on Galveston Bay.   We need your help to ensure GBCA's continued fiscal health.  Even though membership in GBCA is a bargain we have too many people who think GBCA events are "free".  While we do not charge for Rum & Icicle Races there is a real cost to the club.  It costs GBCA approx. $500 to provide food, rum, ice and mixers for EVERY rum or icicle race.  Thanks to our sponsors, much of this cost is defrayed.  If you are a boat owner and do any racing in GBCA events it is important that you sign up as a GBCA Sr. Member ($130).  If you are a GBCA Sr. Member who races please poll your crew and encourage your regulars to sign up for a GBCA Crew Membership ($50).  For $50 annually a crew member can attend 13 events at an average cost of $3.84 per race.  Where can one eat dinner -- and drink as much rum as desired -- for less than $4?  While it would be unfair to ask occasional crew to become GBCA members, the folks who regularly race on your boat need to step up and help us defray the costs.  Our ability to sponsor high quality racing and the associated social activities is directly correlated to the club's financial resources.   Please help us ensure that GBCA continues its long tradition of quality sailboat racing and party excellence.  The new web site makes it easy to sign up for automatic renewal so you do not have to fool with that chore each year.  You can discontinue the automatic renewal at any time.

Many Thanks,

GBCA Board of Governors

Quote from: Bee on August 03, 2015, 07:02:26 PM
GBCA Calendar says this is on the 26th and 27th of September.  Rumor is that they are going to run the old HYC Offshore Triangle.  Start at G11 as usual, round G5a, head to  Buccaneer, Freeport Outer, and then back to either G5 or G5a and finish at G11.  Could be the reverse of this as well.  Pretty sure you can count on the dates.

This is the current plan.  A 90nm overnight (Sat/Sun) triangle race.  Start and finish at the same place.  Cruising Club and (maybe) NonSpin may only do a 60nm two leg out and back version of this.

Quote from: Ron_1056 on July 16, 2015, 07:25:21 PM
Will we have updated handicaps for the cruising class before Saturday?

Ron E

Yes, ratings have been updated as of this morning. Participants should have received an email via regatta network.  Check your spam box.  Sorry for the delay, sometimes it takes all week to collect finish times.
If you were in the middle of the fleet, your rating probably didn't change much, if at all.  Only those at the front and tail end will change as the equation tries to bring boat ratings toward the middle. 

Whether you think or wonder if your rating should or has changed, but you don't see a change in the database ratings on the day of the race - then that is your rating for the day.

Have fun tomorrow!

Quote from: Bee on July 16, 2015, 07:20:04 PM
But he just might want to sail on a winning boat.

Carl,
Did you say foredeck on an Express 37?  Millennium Express is a local Express 37 looking for crew.
You don't want to go with a J/one-oh-what-ever; bowman doesn't have anything to do!!       

Plus it's a test to see who is reading the SI's or just relying upon their memory of yesteryear.  New marks and new time, we'll see who starts when and goes around which mark(s).

Based upon feedback and requests from a number of skippers and crew, we moved the start up another hour this year to allow more people to make it to the after race party.  We left the cutoff time the same to allow more boats to finish in case of light winds.  Last year had a number of DNF due to time limit.
Personally I preferred the night racing we had years ago.  This is Texas where the summer is hot day and night. 
This is GBCA which is the place to race.  We also have great parties for which we need to facilitate more people attending and thereby possibly drive up membership.
We're trying new things all the time.

It's approximately a 55nm course with a pursuit style start.  The intent is to have boats finishing by 1700 hrs so they can attend the party with band on Friday night.  So boats with a rating of 300 are likely to be starting at sunrise on Friday morning.  SI's are still being finalized.

Laguna Harbor is offering complimentary overnight staging Thursday night before the beginning of the Spring Fling.
See more information on the TMCA Spring Fling website by clicking here: TMCA Spring Fling

Quote from: STuma on April 22, 2015, 09:13:46 AM
What was the idea of using M53 as a mark?

Has a reschedule date been determined? Would I be able to enter if the reschedule date works?

M54 has an exposed pipe hazard nearby and M53 kept the total distance around 22nm.  M54 will need to be changed for the Rum races.

We're looking at a few dates to reschedule.  The calendar is so full, that it might have to be on a Sunday.  Yet to be determined, but we will give at least a months notice.  Yes, you will be able to register as the event is brought forward and reopened.

Must have three boats to form a class.  No guaranteed wins - ya gotta fight for it.

Waiting to the last hour can be hazardous as there may not be a slip available for them.  Plus the volunteers need to know the numbers for which to plan.